Bottom holding structure for wire screens



Aug. 5, 1952 A. LANG BOTTOM HOLDING STRUCTURE FOR WIRE SCREENS Original Filed April 26, 1948 W. M Va. A

Patented Aug. 5, 1952 BOTTOM HOLDING STRUCTURE FOR WIRE SCREENS AlbertLang, Oakland, Calif. Y Continuation of application Serial No. 23,347,

April 26, 1948. -This a SeriallNo. 238,141

8 Claims. 160-328) This invention relates to framelesswindow screen structures and particularly to a bottom screen edge holding structure.

The present application is a continuation of my co-pending application entitled; Bottom Holding Structure for Wire Screen, Serial Number 23,347, filed April 26, 1948, now abandoned.

Prior latch or lock type bottom holding structures for detachably connecting the bottom of a frameless window screen to a window frame have been expensive, complex in construction, and have required a relatively large number of parts.

A main object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive bottom holding structure for detachably connecting one end of a frameless window screen to awindow frame, which bottom holding structurecomprises only a few parts, yet, which 'structure'is so designed as to be releasably latchedin its fully operative position in a mannersuch thatwhile it can be readily unlatched by a person'within a room, it offers great resistance to' unlatching Joya person stationed outside the window. m

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a bottom holding structure for a frameless window screen, which bottom holding structure has a slotted generally horizontal portion applicable to a fixed screw on a window frame to progressively draw the screen downwardly as the bottom holding structure is applied to the screw to place the screen under a tension greater than necessary to normally tension the screen, said bottomholding structure being specifically formed so that during the last increment of application thereof to] the screen, there is permitted a slight upward movement of the bottom holding structure relative to the screw to relieve the excess tension on the screen and leave the screen taut under a normal tension whereby the bottom holding structure is yieldably latched .in its fully operativeposition. r Z' A .further main object; of thepresent invention is to provide a screen edge holding structure including as a part thereof aframe engaging Sealing strip. a a d havi cer a n. I ot e znart of simple and inexpensive construction for adjustably frictionally' supporting the sealing strip.

Another, objectfloffth'e present invention is to provide a. structure as described in 'the'imr'nediately preceding paragraph having aflU-sl'ia'ped clip'fitting through "a 'slotinfthe f'sti'ucture for adj ustably frictionally "supporting the sealing pplication July 23,1951, Y A

strip, and which clip is provided with means for securing the structure to the adjacent end of the window frame. I

Still another object of the present invention is to provide various improvements in frameless window screen structure.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing description and the appended claims. j

Several forms which the invention may assume are exemplified in the following description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-section through a window screen showing the preferred form of bottom holding and tensioning structure and also showing a top holding structure.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section'taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 but with the latching screw removed and showing the latching bracket in plan View.

Fig, 3' is a fragmentary front elevational view ofthe bottom holding structure.

Fig. 4 is a vertical mid-section taken along the line-44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing how the sealing strip may be used as a template.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section similar tothat of Fig. 1 but showing an alternative structure.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a third modi fication. I a

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a screen I is held and properly tensionedbetween awindow sill 2 and the top part 3 of a window frame, by means of a top holding structure 4 and abottom holding structure 5. As is usual, the top and bottom holding structures are provided, respectively. with a top holding strip l0 having a U-bend H and a bottom holding strip [2 havinga similar but inverted U-bend l3. "The screen I, suitably crimped as shown, is held .in frictional engagement by the U-bends II and [3, the screen being readily engaged and disengaged from either holding strip by sliding it relatively to the holding strip and lengthwise thereof. 7

Briefly, the top holding structure 3 comprises, besides the above-mentioned holding strip 13, a plurality of spaced, slotted brackets I4 engaging slots I5 formed in the holding strip I0 and supportedby screws l6 mounted in the window frame. Further details as to the construction,

assembly and manipulation of theitop holding structure will be found in my copendingl application, Serial No. 23,348, entitled Top Holding Device for Wiren Screen, filed April 26, 1948, now abandoned, and executed concurrently herewith.

As shown, the bottom holding strip l2, which runs the full width of the screen, is provided at its bottom with a horizontal flange 20 bent downwardly at its outer edge at 2|, thus providing maximum rigidity. The bottom holding structure also comprises, besides the holding strip l2, a pair of spaced, horizontally aligned latchin brackets 22 and a clip 23 disposed midway be; tween the brackets 22. Each of the elements 22 and 23 is held and retained in aslot 24 formed-in the holding strip l2. "The clip 23, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4, is in the form of a simple U-bend and serves as a retaining member for a purpose hereinafter explained. For convenience or illustration, only one latching bracket 22 is shown, but it will be understood that any desired number may be used. Ordinarily, for a window screen of ordinary width, two such brackets will be used, disposed adjacent the opposite ends of the holding structure 5.

Each latching bracket '22 is provided with an inverted U-bend 25, a base 25a having a slight incline upwardly and outwardly rain the 'U -bend, and a vertical handle 26. A'countersunk slot 33 is formed in each base 25a comprising an enlarged, rounded end portion 3|, a somewhat smaller enlarged or expanded endjportion 32 and a relatively narrow connecting portion or channel 33. As will be seenfrom Fig. 3-the enlarged end portion 31 is formed largely in thevertical handle 26. v p

A sealing stripj34 is'al so "provided having a lower, outwardly. turned flange portion35 and being slidably received between the holding strip 12 and the inner leg oithe 'L-lfbend 25 and fr ictionally held in place. The sealing strip 34 is also provided withspaced holes 36*and recessed ends 31 (see Fig. 5) for a purpose" explained hereinafter.

In assembling the structure, the latching bracket 22 and clip 23 are inserted through the slots 24 in the holdingstr-ipfI'Z before fOrming their U-bends, and the U'-b'ef1ds areithen'fdrrned 4 ent from Fig. 1 of the drawings, the radius R of the are passing through the head of the screw 40 and having its center at the pivot point P, that is, the distance from the point P to the point of final seating of the screw 43 in the end portion 32. is less than the distance from P to the point of entry S of the screw into the bracket. Accordingly, relatively little tension need be exerted on the screen I to effect the initial engagement and entry of the screw into the bracket, but as the bracket is pivoted back toward the final seating position as shown in Fig. 1, greater tension must in a manner such that sealing" strip ,3'4canbe inserted in place only by springing theirmer legs of member a n as-mayhem strip fl2 to thereby frictionally hold the strip'jinfpiace and prevent it dropping out accidentally. "It is the sole purpose and function of clip '23'to' "assist brackets 22 in frictionally engaging and supporting'sea'ling strip 34. J

Screws 40fa-re provided, being'hi'ourited'in the window sill '2 to register with the'slots33 in the latching brackets 22 Screw holes ior'the screws at can be readilyand accurately located'by' means of the sealing strip 34 which, as show'n'in Fig. 5, is provided with holes36 spaced'apartthedesired distance and with recessed corners 31 to'register with the'abutmentstrips 4i ofthe'window frame. The sealing strip 34 thus serves as atelnplate to locate the screw holes.

The heads 42 of the screws i'il are such as to clear the enlarged openings 3 l formed the latching brackets 22', whereas 'the countersunk channel 33 and endport'ion32 "will not clear" but will seat the screw head-42 'as shown in Fig. 1.

Assuming that it is desired to latch the screen, the handles 26 of the latching brackets 22 'are grasped and'the holding strip I2 is pivoted outwardly about the pivot point or fulcrum P, as shown in broken lines, until the enlarged openings 31 of the brackets 22 are-in registration with the heads 42 ofthe screws 40; Aswill'beappan' be exerted upon the screen to seat the head 42 of the screw 43 in the channel 33.

Just prior to its seating in the expanded or enlarged area 32 at the end of slot 30, the screen is putunder a tension greater than normally required to tension the screen. When the screw head 42 registers with the end of the slot, the screen tension will cause the bracket to snap upwardly to seat screw head 42 while simultaneously relieving the excess tension on the screen, "the upward movement of bracket IZ-b'eing limited to an amount such that the screen will 'thenbe under a normal tension which is adequate to hold the screen taut and bracket securely latched in place.

It is apparent from Fig. 1 that "while brackets d2 may readily be unlatched by a combined downward and outward force on handle 26, his practically impossible for a person stationed outside thewi'ndow to unlatchthe bracket since externally applied forces only 'cause'a firmer engagement between the brackets and their respective screws.

It was previously mentioned that the inwardly extending-base' lfiais slightly inclined. Although the basecould be disposed. perfectly horizontal, such a construction wouldhave the disadvantage that as the brackets were applied to the screws, tension would beiiiiposed on'the screen more suddenly than when the base is inclined, therefore producing aconstruction not as easily-operated as .a 'constructionhaving an inclined base.

It will thus be seen 'that,'not only is proper tension put upon thescreen, but even greater tension must beexertedduringlatchingand unlatching, such "that it. is practically impossible, short of breakageofithe.partsifor the latchingbrackets 22 'to becomeunlatched accidentally.

Referring now to'F-ig. B, there is There shown a somewhatdifferent embodiment of the invention in'which each latching bracket 22, 'instead'o'f ba in'g' provided with-a U b'end' 25.aslin the modificatioh "described. above, 'isfprovided at its outer and upper end with'an ear 'llc engaging a slot -24 formed in the bottom holding strip l2,- and the latching bracket and hold-ing' strip are secured together by means oia nutand-boltAG. The-sealing strip 34 is provided with open-ended slots 41 to receive the bolts and thus isscapable of sliding into and out of-engag'ement with-the 'holdingistrip, as shown.

In the modification shown in Fig. '-7 ;ithe latch-'- ing bracket 22 is shown as having a T-slot' 5ll and as beingbentdownwardly-adjacent the U,-

bend topr'ovide a groove or-expanded portion-51 A I -shaped screwsznavm'g a head 53 is -mount ed in the window-sill as shown. In .latchingiand unlatching the screen, the 's'ame pivoting and tensioning procedure i s"'employed"'as described above. the head 53 01 the screw making its entry at the bar of the T.& In latched fposiiton, the head 53 of the screwse'ats'in'the groovefill thus relieving some or the tension but leav'ingsum,

site 5,8 26

i i r n M g screen taut.

. twill thus :be-seenthat'a 'bottomholding'device; is provided "fer latching and 'unlatching framelesswindow screens to a window sill, which embodies numerous advantages] Among these advantages are ease offabrication; thus,' each of the parts except the screws and bolts (which are few in number and are standard itemslcan be fabricated from sheet metal, such as" aluminum or an aluminum alloy, by simple, standard operations such as cutting; stamping; bending and punching. The "parts are: few" in number, they are easily'asse'mbled ana'fvery littleworkl is reduired on installation. The structure is easyTto manipulate and provides secure and dependable latching.

By the present; invention, a bottom holding structure has been provided having only a few simple parts, yet which bottom holding structure is latched in its fully operative position in a manner as to effectively prevent unla'tching by externally applied forces. Also, the present invention provides a bottom holding structure ;includirig afsealing strip adjustably frictionally held in place by a novel clipmernber. Furthermore, the present invention provides such a clip member having, broadly speaking, means for attachment to a window frame, which means may take the form of the novel bracket provided by the present invention.

While I have shown the preferred forms of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A bottom holding structure of the character described comprising a holding strip for holding one edge of a wire screen and means for latching the strip to a window sill, said latching means comprising a bracket mounted on and projecting from the holding strip and having an upwardly extending end, said bracket having a slot formed therein, said upwardly extending end having an opening therein larger than and communicating with the slot to freely receive the head of a fixed headed retainer mounted on the said window sill.

2. A frameless window screen construction comprising a sheet of screen material adapted to be secured at one end to one end of a window frame, a holding strip connected to the other end of said sheet of material for securing it to the opposite end f the window frame, said holding strip having a portion extending toward said opposite end of the window frame, said portion having a horizontal slot formed therein, a U-shaped clip member having one leg thereof disposed on one side of said portion of the holding strip and the other leg thereof. disposed on the other side of said portion of the holding strip and having the part thereof joining the legs extending through said slot, and a sealing strip interposed between one leg and said'portion of the holding strip and springing said one leg away from said portion of the holding strip whereby the sealing strip is frictionally retained in place between said leg and said portion of the holding strip.

3. A frameless window screen construction comprising a sheet of screen material adapted to be secured at one end to one end of a window frame, a holding st'r'm'cenneaea to-the other end offsaidsheet o materialfor securing it to the opp site" end or t ewi ria w irrame, said holding strip having aporupn extending toward said opposite end of the windowflframe, said portion having a horizontal slot @formed therein, a U- shapedfclip member having one leg thereof disposedon onesideof said-portion of theholding strip'and the otherlegthereof disposed on the other side of said portion of the, holding strip and having the part thereof joining the legs extending through said slot; a sealing strip interposedbetween one leg and said portion ofthe holding strip and springing said one leg away from said portion of the holding strip whereby the sealing strip is frictionally retained in place between. said leg and "said"portion of the holdingj'strip, and means for connecting said clip member 'to 'the adjacent end of the window frame.

4. A bottom holding structure for a wirescreen, comprising a bottom holding strip provided with meansjon the upper part thereof for engaging and holding the bottom edge of said wire screen, said strip having formed thereinbelow the screen ahorizontal slot, a latchingbracket engageable with a fixed securingfimembe'rion the window frame "and having aniin'verted U bend seated in'the horizontal slot, said horizontal slot being disposed a substantial distance above the bottom of the strip so that the U-bend portion of the bracket embraces a vertical portion of the strip to prevent rocking or pivoting of the latching bracket relative to the strip, and a sealing strip slidably and frictionally held between said U-bend and said holding strip.

5. A bottom holding structure of the character described, comprising a holding strip for holding one edge of a wire screen and means for latching the strip to a window sill, said latching means comprising a generally horizontal lip connected to said strip and extending inwardly therefrom and having a retainer shank receiving slot formed therein extending inwardly from said strip, the inner end of the lip being bent upward- 1y to form a handle by which the lip may be manipulated, said upwardly bent end having a retainer head receiving opening formed therein communicating with the slot to permit the lip to be passed onto a fixed headed retainer with the head of such retainer passing through the opening to ride on the margins of the lip defining the slot to progressively tension the wire screen as the retainer approaches the end of the slot, the margins of said lip defining the end of the slot being depressed to enable the retainer head to snap thereinto to partially relieve the screen tension and latch the strip in place.

6. A bottom holding structure of the character described, comprising a holding strip for holding one edge of a wire screen and means for latching the strip to a window sill, said latching means comprising a generally horizontal lip connected to said strip and extending inwardly therefrom and having a retainer shank receiving slot formed therein extending inwardly from said strip, the inner end of the lip being bent upward- 1y to form a handle by which the lip may be manipulated, said upwardly bent end having a retainer head receiving opening formed therein communicating with the slot to permit the lip to be passed onto a fixed headed retainer with the head of such retainer passing through the opening to ride on the margins of the lip defining the slot to progressively tension the wire screen as the retainer approaches the end of the slot,

the margins 91' said lip defining the end of the slot being 'enlargedto enablethe retainer .head' to snap the'reinto to'partialjly relieve the. screen tension and ilatchthe strip in place;

7. A bottomholding' structure or the character described, comprising a .holding'strip'ior holding one edge of a wire screen andmeans for latch.- ingthestrip to a windowisilLsaid latching means comprising a generally horizontal lip connected to said strip and extending inwardly therefrom and having aretainer shank receiving slotiormed' therein extending. inwardly from said strip, the inner endoi the lip being ibent upwardlyto form a .handle by which the, lip may. .be manipulated, said lip having; a retainer head. receiving opening formed. therein. communicating. with the inner endjof the. slot 'to permit. theilip to be passed onto a fixed headed retainer with the head of such retainer. passing'through the opening to ride on the margins of the lip defining the slot to progressively tensionthe wire screen as the retainer approaches theendlof the slot, the margins of saidlip defining theend of, the slot being expanded to enable theretainerhead to snap thereinto to. partiallyv relieve .the screen tension and latch the strip in place.

8. A screen-holding strip for frameless window screens comprising. a bottom screen edge holdlaterally extending portion of the means andthe enlarged portion ofthe slot beinglccated in the upwardly extendingportion ofthe means-thereby permittingthe head of a securing screw to ass througnthe upwardly extending portion of the. 51 11) and j transversely of the. laterally extending portion.

' ALBERT REFERENCES CITED The following references-are .of record in the file of-this patent:

' STATES PATENTS Number Name Date.

1-,6723596 Marshall June 12, 1.928 2,318,955 Milnor May 11,1943 23793747 "Richards July 3; 1945 

